Wow, this sucks. 69 Camaro up in smoke in a trailer

[1970Moparmann]

Arlington Heights police and firefighter/paramedics responded about 2:42 p.m. Saturday to a report of a trailer on fire at Northwest Highway and Walnut Avenue. Firefighters arrived to find a 1969 Chevy Camaro inside a trailer on fire. Within minutes of the arrival of firefighters, the fire was blowing out the back door of the trailer. The trailer was a long race car/show car transport trailer being hauled by a white Chevy Silverado.

A witness driving behind the trailer said that the owner noticed possible smoke, but thought it was road dust at first, somewhere between Vail Avenue and Walnut/Ridge Avenue on westbound Northwest Highway. When the driver smelled smoke, he stopped and saw heavier white smoke coming out of the trailer. The back door of the trailer was open when firefighters arrived. The vehicle became fully-involved with flames as firefighters connected to the hydrant and charged the line. The fire was extinguished within about five minutes.

No injuries were reported.

The Chevy Camaro was being transported home to Palatine after it was on display at the Maine East High School Charity Car Show

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTiw60aPXV8&feature=player_embedded

[PocketThunder]

That is horrible.  That lady needs to learn that firefighters are moving as quickly as they can.   

[terrible one]

That is horrible.  That lady needs to learn that firefighters are moving as quickly as they can.  

And bad move opening the back of the trailer up and providing the fire with an unlimited supply of air

[ACUDANUT]

I would have dropped the trailer and moved my truck away from the inferno.

[440]

Sad to hear but why weren't there any fire extinguishers in the trailer or truck ?

[elacruze]

I've had more than one person ask why I always check under the hood before I leave an event. This is something I never want to happen to me.

[ACUDANUT]

Yea right, you would need 2k of them.

[Cooter]

Battery disconnects save cars. Wonder if it was elelctrical, or "Other"....


Hope he had insurance.

[Aero426]

Yea right, you would need 2k of them.

There are automatic fire systems for trailers.   Not cheap, but worth it, I am sure.  

Probably the worst mistake was opening the back door.  

[nvrbdn]

really sucks.

[1BAD68]

Probably the worst mistake was opening the back door.  

Assuming they are driving from a show and some passing motorist tells them there is smoke coming from their trailer, just what should they have done?
Looks like the side door was locked from the inside. Bummer but thats what insurance is for.
The lady bitching about the fireman is an idiot

[Rolling_Thunder]

So...    moral of the story?  Don't half ass electrical and never trailer your car.   

[moparstuart]

Probably the worst mistake was opening the back door.  

Assuming they are driving from a show and some passing motorist tells them there is smoke coming from their trailer, just what should they have done?
Looks like the side door was locked from the inside. Bummer but thats what insurance is for.
The lady bitching about the fireman is an idiot

maybe they should have thrown the drop down door right back up untill the water was there

  also I can understand the lady's reaction in that moment , you feel helpless and I for one would be freaking the hell out  ( in that moment ) if it was any of my cars ..

[Ghoste]

Yeah I think I would have opened it.

[myk]

   Yup-that's the normal reaction for anyone...

[chargerboy69]

Sad to hear but why weren't there any fire extinguishers in the trailer or truck ?

I saw a discharged extinguisher laying on the ground in the video.  It did not look too big and was obviously not enough to put out the fire.

[myk]

I wonder what sort of wiring/electrical system it had.  I hope it was fully insured...

[ACUDANUT]

Moral of the story, disconnect the battery.

[Indygenerallee]

Moral of the story...shit happens.....

[Charger454]

Moral of the story...shit happens.....

Smartest comment yet

[1970Moparmann]

I guess that is why we have insurance.     At the end of the day, it's metal. 

I've been pretty lazy with disconnecting the battery (like I used to) and this will get my butt to do it again.

[myk]

But....disconnecting the battery would be just delaying the inevitable anyway-something was fundamentally wrong with the car.  I'd rather the car burned up on a trailer than during a cruise or a show with people in and/or around it...

[FLG]

But....disconnecting the battery would be just delaying the inevitable anyway-something was fundamentally wrong with the car.  I'd rather the car burned up on a trailer than during a cruise or a show with people in and/or around it...

Yes and no..i mean at a show around other cars, yep. But while driving it is probably safer than in the trailer as chances are you could have saw the smoke sooner and put it out before the shit hit the fan.

Bottom line, invest in a disconnect switch.

[Ghoste]

I would MUCH rather have it start on fire when I'm driving it or at a show when people are around to notice and possibly help than in a trailer.  The trailer I would think stands a greater chance of having the car end up completely destroyed as well as taking the trailer with it.

[myk]

I think it's important to view the lives of other people and other people's property as a first place priority over the Camaro or any one of our own cars, if we are ever in that situation, God forbid.  If the car burns up at a cruise or a show there are other people and other property that could be endangered.  If the car flames up in a trailer well, chances are the car will be isolated as it destroys itself, as it was in this case.  Personally, I could never live with myself if my actions or my property caused others harm or misery in that regard.  Besides, I don't know about you guys but my car's insured well; I'll just wind up behind the wheel of another, better car anyway...

[tan top]

never a good sight to see , some dudes pride & joy gone up in flames   

[Ghoste]

Oh don't misundertnd me Myk, I fully agree with you on protecting others.  My opinion is just that I stand a better chance of doing that by knowing right away so that I can be on top of it.  My fear of it happening in a trailer is not knowing until it is a raging inferno hurtling down the highway behind the tow vehicle.

[NHCharger]

This is why any vehicle I have in my shop/garage has a battery disconnect switch. When I trailered my 71 to Carlisle last year I disconnected the battery after loading.
I cannot believe some of the responses on youtube. People are idiots.

[Cooter]

I cannot believe some of the responses on youtube. People are idiots.

That's the generation we live with today. Everybody's looking for that 15 min. of fame. My boy says stupid sh*t I'd love to see my ol man hear today...

Sh*t like when i'm clearly mad at him, he'll make comments like "It happens"..No it DOESN'T!! Not when your watching WTF you're doing it doesn't.
Or this one is my favorite. "Whatever"....Ok, so now I have to wait patiently for my chance to get him with that one. Went to look at some Fox body Mustangs which he's clealry enamered with, and when he asked if he could ride with, I refused. He said why? Response? "Wahtever"...

[Ghoste]

It's also the reson we disconnect batteries on everything in the restoration shop and the museum.   You never know when its going to strike.

[firefighter3931]

One of these would have prevented this problem....about $7.50 the last time i bought one. 

I allways have one installed on the Neg battery terminal and when the car is parked the electrical system is disabled. 


Ron

[charger Downunder]

That is really bad what a nightmare i wonder if the car was the start of the fire or the trailer, do you sleep in those trailers, Can you get a smoke alarm in those trailer that could be hooked up to your car to warn you of a fire as you are towing it along. Just wonder how much damage was done to the car.

[moparstuart]

One of these would have prevented this problem....about $7.50 the last time i bought one. 

I allways have one installed on the Neg battery terminal and when the car is parked the electrical system is disabled. 


Ron

yup

[ACUDANUT]

In that picture, it's on the Positive side. Either way it works. 

[moparstuart]

In that picture, it's on the Positive side. Either way it works.  

i have since fixed that .  I most likely have an updated picture let me look


couldnt find the updated photo
i can get one tonight though 

[resq302]

Im always explaining at shows why I disconnect my battery and why I also disconnect it once I get inside the trailer.  Mainly three reasons.... 1) to prevent any drain on the battery from items like radio, clock, or whatever since it would be kinda difficult to jump start the car inside the trailer if you do not have a battery booster pack.  2) lessens the chance of your car catching fire inside the trailer 3) no need to worry about burning out a bulb or melting your dome light or console lense should you keep a door open at shows or even burn out the bulb in your trunk!

[Ghoste]

The brown interior lenses look horrible, that is a great reason just for that alone to disconnect.

[1BAD68]

Ok I'm sold on getting a disconnect. Whats the proper hook up... negative side or positive side?

[Ghoste]

Most hook it to the negative side but it will work on either.

[tan top]

Most hook it to the negative side but it will work on either.

should be on the negative side  

FWIW  ,  i  always have the negative just tight enough !  just to twist & pull off by hand  

[ACUDANUT]

 Yea, me too.

[Dino]

I thought about one of those but I drive my car too much and would hate to have to reset the radio and clock every time.  Maybe I should put a fire extinguisher in the car...

[Ghoste]

You should have one of those in there anyway! 

[Dino]

You should have one of those in there anyway! 

You are absolutely right!  Which one is the one to get? 

[FLG]

Dino,

Hated that, i installed a small jumper wire with a 5 or so amp fuse to still allow radio presets and trunk/glove/dome lights to work.

[Dino]

Dino,

Hated that, i installed a small jumper wire with a 5 or so amp fuse to still allow radio presets and trunk/glove/dome lights to work.

Oooh smart move, I may just do that!

[ACUDANUT]

I always carry a fire extinguisher when I am driving one of my Mopars.

[resq302]

Most hook it to the negative side but it will work on either.

should be on the negative side  

FWIW  ,  i  always have the negative just tight enough !  just to twist & pull off by hand  

Yup, thats what I do.  No unsightly green knob to turn or corrode.  Just the original stuff with a quick push down and twist at the same time to give a nice clean connection every time!

[FLG]

And yes to add, negative side...reason being.

If its on the positive side and you drop a wrench from the positive post to the sheetmetal your going to have some sparks. If you disconnect the negative side and you do the same...no problems.

[bakerhillpins]

And yes to add, negative side...reason being.

If its on the positive side and you drop a wrench from the positive post to the sheetmetal your going to have some sparks. If you disconnect the negative side and you do the same...no problems.

 

You should have one of those in there anyway! 

You are absolutely right!  Which one is the one to get? 

  Yes, and make sure you keep it in the cabin so that you don't have to try to chase it down when you have trouble.  There has been a thread or two on which ones to use so depending upon your luck with search terms you may find something useful.

I have a simple ABC dry chemical medium sized disposable in the car with me. If you use it the dry chem will get into everything like drywall dust and it's corrosive so it will destroy all electronics and probably make a mess out of the carb. Though that's better than a total loss. A CO2 one will work but typically they are only in the larger sizes. Read the labels and make sure you get something that will cover B/C fires (liquids/electrical).  I don't think anyone needs D (metals - magnesium)

The best defense is a quick one. The sooner you put it out the smaller and less stuff you need. If you use up one and its not out leave it for the pros.    But by all means BE CAREFUL, after all it's just a car.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fire_extinguisher

[Ghoste]

And get the kind that can be refilled and check it periodically.  If you are going to use the disposable style of extinguisher, make sure you replace it by the expiry date.  Don't leave them laying in one position for years either, rotate them around once in a while.